Mental health encompasses all aspects of the mind including stress, anxiety, sadness, joy and all the other emotions an individual can experience. Too easily, our society diminishes mental health and belittles its importance, but an unhealthy mind affects the entire being. Just as one manages their physical health with annual checkups, dentistry, and doctor’s appointments, managing mental health is extremely important, although not an easy task. It requires finding downtime in your busy schedule and reminding yourself that you need to take a step back every once in a while. We are not, however, just able to manage our mental health on our own. Each and every one of us needs the help of others to keep our minds healthy. It is a team effort. Here are some easy ways that we should all be pitching in to help one another maintain optimum mental health:
1. Smile more, scowl less.
It’s simple—a smile goes a long way. Our society moves so fast; we walk facing the ground, playing on our phones and avoiding eye contact with those we pass on the street. Once in a while, take the time to look up from the ground or your cell phone and smile at someone you pass by. You don’t have to say anything to them or stop to converse; a simple smile could change that person’s day and they may need it more than you know.
2. Be more conscientious.
There is a psychological phenomenon called the Bystander Effect, which theorizes that individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are around. I’m not saying that if you see a fight going on, you should jump in the middle to break it up. Simply, we should all be more aware of individuals in distress. If you see a person crying on a park bench, stop and simply ask “are you ok? Is there anything I can do for you?” Pay more attention to the emotions of the people around you and offer help when you can.
3. Quit the road rage
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m guilty of zooming around some car that’s driving too slowly and yelling at them as I go by. We are all guilty of a little aggressive driving here and there, but for society’s sake, cut it out. Who are we to make an assumption that the other driver is driving slowly solely because they are an idiot? Perhaps they are an anxious driver, or maybe their mind is preoccupied. Either way, just let them be, and drive your own drive without harassing someone else. Not only is it the nice thing to do, it also lessens your stress!
4. Stop pressuring people to do things
It doesn’t matter what age you are, peer pressure exists within your friend group and, quite simply, it sucks. Peer pressure is basically trying to convince someone to do something that they don’t want to do. Why are you trying to convince them? Your life does not depend on their ability or desire to do something. If they don’t want to do it, leave them alone! Nothing makes a person feel worse than being made to feel guilty for avoiding something they aren’t comfortable doing.
5. If you’ve got something nice to say, say it!
I once saw a Facebook friend tell a story of complimenting a woman’s haircut in Starbucks. The woman burst into tears; she had just gone through chemotherapy for cancer, her hair was still growing in and she was embarrassed by how short it was. Yet, here was someone telling her how awesome she looked! It made this woman’s day to have a stranger point out that she looked good. If you think someone looks pretty, or you like their outfit, tell them! It doesn’t have to be inappropriate to give a stranger a compliment; so if you’re thinking something nice about someone, do them a favor and tell them.
6. If you don’t have anything nice to say, keep your mouth shut!
Here’s what our mothers try to teach us growing up and the flip-side of the last point. Why do we as humans seem to think that tearing other people down with hurtful words will make ourselves feel better? Insulting another person will not make your life any better; all it does is cause mental anguish for the poor victim you’ve chosen to insult. If you don’t have something constructive or nice to say, keep your thoughts to yourself.
7. Embrace politeness.
Our society has become so hardened to other people in recent years. We take for granted when other people do little things like say “excuse me” or hold the door for us. Take the extra time to say “thank you” when someone does something for you; be kind to your waiters and customer service people by saying “please” when you want something. It takes very minimal effort to be polite and civil to other people around us, and it really makes a big difference when it comes to making a human connection.
8. Eliminate the word "crazy" from your vocabulary.
The word "crazy" is simply not a nice word to describe someone. When you call someone crazy, it implies that there is something wrong with them. They may not show it or even consciously realize it, but that insult hurts them. That word will stay in the back of their mind and one day, when they are feeling out of place or confused, they will slip into thinking "am I really crazy? Is there something wrong with me?" It seems like a silly thing to pay attention to, but the word "crazy" truly is one that can have a negative impact on a person's self-esteem.
So there you have it: eight simple ways to improve our society's mental health as a whole. If we all take the few seconds out of our day to be polite, smile, or give a compliment, it's possible that we could save a few of us from mental health problems! It doesn't take a lot and yet it means so much.
